Five Italian companies exit Malta

After an MGA probe into organised crime links, five Italian gambling companies have exited Malta.

Malta.- Last month, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) started an investigation into every licensee connected to or owned by Italians in order to avoid links with organised crime. The probe’s results were the suspension of a licence, the cancellation of another and the decision to leave the country in three other companies’ cases.

The Italian “anti-mafia” police arrested several members of crime organisations as part of Palermo’s “Game Over” operation and triggered the MGA investigation in order to avoid having that kind of businesses in Malta.

Joseph Cuschieri, executive chairman of the MGA, said the authority was now open to collaborate with the Italian anti-mafia commission and any other law enforcement agency “to iron out any concerns or misunderstandings in order to keep gaming free from crime.”

The companies involved are: B2875 (Phoenix Limited), suspended and soon to be revoked due to its owner’s (Benedetto Bacchi) links to the “Game Over” operation; Leaderbet (LB Casino Ltd), cancelled after being named as part of the investigation; and operators Betent.com (Betent Group Ltd), Potterbet (Potter Mrc Ltd) and Giodani (Giodani Limited), which have voluntarily abandoned Malta.